Watch the Victory Celebration for Marriage in North Carolina

RALEIGH, NC—Today, the people of North Carolina voted to pass the Marriage Protection Amendment by over 61 percent of the vote, making North Carolina the thirty-first state to preserve marriage with a constitutional amendment defining marriage as the union between one man and one woman.  The Amendment won with a 22% margin, slightly larger than predicted by recent polling.

“We are thankful to God and to the people of North Carolina for joining together today to preserve marriage as the union between one man and one woman in our State Constitution,” said Tami Fitzgerald, Chairwoman of Vote FOR Marriage NC. “North Carolinians have been waiting for nearly a decade to protect marriage—a sacred institution authored by God—from being redefined against the will of the people. The Marriage Protection Amendment ensures that it will always be the people of our state who determine what marriage is in North Carolina, not an activist judge or future politicians. Our heartfelt gratitude goes out to the thousands of supporters who rallied behind protecting marriage in our state. Our victory tonight could not have been possible without their tireless support.”

Vote FOR Marriage NC is the referendum committee that worked to pass the Marriage Protection Amendment on May 8.  The campaign is comprised of a multitude of policy organizations, denominations, and civic groups. Its Executive Committee consists of the Christian Action League, NC Values Coalition, a coalition of African American pastors, NC Baptists, and the National Organization for Marriage (NOM).

North Carolinians interested in more information about Vote FOR Marriage NC may visit the campaign’s website: www.VoteFORMarriageNC.com.

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“For thousands of years and across cultures and religious traditions, marriage has always been defined as the union between one man and one woman,” the statement read. “As faith leaders, we believe that marriage between one man and one woman is a sacred institution, designed by God, to be the cornerstone of our civilization…Across the United States of America, marriage has been under attack. In states where same-sex ‘marriage’ has been imposed on society, the religious freedoms of those who support marriage between one man and one woman have been threatened. We need a constitutional amendment preserving marriage so that our religious freedom is not endangered by those who seek to make marriage a genderless institution.”

“Faith leaders across our great State understand the need to preserve marriage with a constitutional amendment,” said Tami Fitzgerald, Chairwoman of Vote FOR Marriage NC.  “The threat to marriage is real in North Carolina, and we must protect marriage from judges and politicians who seek to redefine our values and pose threats to our religious freedoms. We are thankful for the faithful support of the 250 pastors and religious leaders and countless others across North Carolina who are taking a righteous stand for truth in North Carolina.”

Vote FOR Marriage NC is the referendum committee working to pass the Marriage Protection Amendment on May 8.  The campaign is comprised of a multitude of policy organizations, denominations, and civic groups. Its Executive Committee consists of the Christian Action League, NC Values Coalition, a coalition of African American pastors, NC Baptists, and the National Organization for Marriage (NOM).

North Carolinians interested in more information about Vote FOR Marriage NC may visit the campaign’s website: www.VoteForMarriageNC.com.

Across the United States of America, marriage has been under attack. In states where same-sex “marriage” has been imposed on society, the religious freedoms of those who support marriage between one man and one woman have been threatened. We need a constitutional amendment preserving marriage so that our religious freedom is not endangered by those who seek to make marriage a genderless institution.

The people of North Carolina have been waiting for nearly a decade to preserve marriage in our State Constitution as thirty other states have already done. It is time that we stand together as North Carolinians to preserve marriage from those who seek to radically redefine our most basic building block of society—the family. We as pastors and religious leaders are thankful that the people of North Carolina have the opportunity to preserve marriage, an enduring and foundational value authored by our Creator, in our State Constitution so that marriage will not be redefined for us.

We stand with Dr. Billy Graham in urging all North Carolinians to vote FOR the Marriage Protection Amendment on May 8th.

Sincerely,

Charlotte Area Religious Leaders

Dr. Mark Harris                FBC Charlotte
Dr. Norman L. Geisler, Chancellor         Veritas Evangelical Seminary
Deacon Art Kingsly                St. Michael the Archangel
Layman John Walker                Saint Gabriel, Charlotte
David Hains                    Charlotte Catholic Diocese
Pastor Michael W. Rice            Gainsville Baptist Church, Lincolnton
Pastor Samuel Genus                Overcomers Fellowship
Pastor Scott Davis                Pitts Baptist Church
Pastor Lee Proctor                Mint Hill Baptist Church
Dr. Charlie T. Scott, Jr.                South Charlotte Baptist Church

Pastor David Roberts                Clarks Chapel Baptist
Rev. Mark Perko                Deep Creek Baptist Church
Pastor Sandy Marks                Alexis Baptist Church
Dr. Rick Walker                Anderson Grove Baptist Church
Dr. Gordon Benton                Beech Glen Baptist Church
Pastor Tim Sims                Bethel Baptist Church
Rev. Brian Langley                Bethel Baptist Church
Rev. Rick Browning                Bethesda Baptist Church
Rev. Josh Evans                Beulah Baptist Church
Dr. Wayne Poplin                Carmel Baptist Church
Rev. Bryan Miller                Center Grove Baptist Church
Rev. Dean Hunter                Central Baptist Church
Matt Ledbetter                Crabtree Baptist Church
Dr. Ancil Overby                Crisis Pregnancy Center of Gastonia
Rev. Richard Hicks                Fairfield Baptist Church
Pastor Joe Smith                Faith Baptist Church
Rev. Robert W. Wallace, Jr.            Faithwalk Community Church
Rev. Mike Whitson                FBC Indian Trail
Rev. Billy Shaw                FBC Stanley
Rev. Chris Benfield                Fellowship Baptist Church
Rev. Steve Triplett                Fellowship Baptist Church
Rev. Gennady Maryanov            First Slavic Baptist Church
Rev. Vladimir Kucharyk            First Slavic Baptist Church
Rev. Ronnie Bowers                Flint Groves Baptist Church
Rev. Pat Cronin                Friendly Avenue Baptist Church
Rev. Terry Stockman                Grandview Baptist Church
Rev. Josh Greene                Green Meadows Baptist Church
Rev. Matthew Eades                Green Memorial Baptist Church
Rev. Darryl Craft                Green Street Baptist Church
Rev. Clint Pressley                Hickory Grove Baptist Church
Pastor Todd Marlow                Hope Community Church
Rev. Lee Pigg                    Hopewell Baptist Church
Rev. Barry Clements                Jessup Grove Baptist Church
Rev. James Huey                Lake Junaluska FBC
Dr. Bobby Blanton                Lake Norman Baptist Church
Rev. Alan Smith                Lake Wylie Baptist Church
Rev. Josh Harris                Lakewood Baptist Church
Rev. Tim Helms                Lighthouse Church

Rev. Jimmy Lancaster            Maplewood Baptist Church
Rev. Daniel Flynn                Memorial Baptist Church
Dr. Bob Lowman                Metrolina Baptist Association
Rev. Lee Proctor                Mint Hill Baptist Church
Dr. Carl Childs                Mountain Park Baptist Church
Rev. Perry Brindley                Mt. Zion Baptist Church
Rev. Wayne Key                Mt. Zion Baptist Church
Dr. Phillip Davis                Nations Ford Community Church
Rev. Chris Byrne                New Friendship Baptist Church
Rev. Kevin Kellough                New Testament Church of the Firstborn
Rev. Scott Keith                Newell Baptist Church
Rev. Mark Caldwell                North Canton Baptist Church
Rev. Jon Hall                    Oak Grove Baptist Church
Rev. Jeff Long                    Parkwood Baptist Church
Rev. Michael Waters                Parkwood Baptist Church
Monsignor Richard Bellow            St. Mark Catholic Church
Dr. Robert Jackson                Peninsula Baptist Church
Rev. Scott Davis                Pitts Baptist Church
Rev. Michael Barrett                Pleasant Garden Baptist Church
Rev. Fred Morrison                Restoring Hope Foursquare Church
Rev. Steve Davis                River Rock Baptist Church
Rev. Steve Frazier                Riverside Baptist Church
Rev. Charlie Simpson                Rock Springs Baptist Church
Rev. Eddie Powers                Sandy Ridge Baptist Church
Rev. Charlie Scott                South Charlotte Baptist Church
Rev. Lawrence Clapp                South Elm Street Baptist Church
Rev. Dale Shields                Statesville Road Baptist Church
Mr. Billy Blakely                Surry Baptist Association
Rev. Ralph Holt                Sutton Park Baptist Church
Rev. Tony Moore                Trindale Baptist Church
Rev. Roger Mathis                Unity Baptist Church
Rev. Austin Rammell                Venture Church
Rev. Stan Welch                West Asheville Baptist Church
Dr. Ed Yount                    Woodlawn Baptist Church
Evangelist Linda Cruz            Church of God in Christ
Rev. Robin Fisher                Sunset Baptist Church
Pastor Barry Clement            Jessup Grove Baptist Church
Rev Bill Saylor                First Baptist Charlotte
Dennis Pruitt                    Brookleigh
William Clark                    Charity

Dan Carter                    East Way Church of God
Ralph Holt                    Sutton Park Baptist Church
Mike Daughtrey                Woodlawn Baptist Church
Chris Alley                    Woodlawn Baptist Church
Michael Waters                Parkwood Baptist Church
Josh Hughes                    Lakewood Baptist Church
Jonathan Pugh                Grace Baptist
Joseph Hensely                Grace Baptist
John Stainback                Grace Baptist
Charles Scott                    South Charlotte Baptist Church
Joseph Campbell                South Charlotte Baptist Church
Daryl Craft                    Green Street Baptist Church
Steve Powell                    Green Street Baptist Church
Robert Steele                    Green Street Baptist Church
Fred Weber                    Unity Baptist Church
Robert Mathis                Unity Baptist Church
William Beck                    Lake Norman Baptist Church
Rev Peter Shaw
Rev William Shaw
George Floyd                    Words of Truth Ministries
Dustin Knight                    Friendly Baptist
Dr. David Richardson                Falks Baptist Church
Ronnie Collins                Lanes Creek Baptist
Brandon Smith                Memorial Baptist
Jimmy Huey                    First Baptist Lake
Alvin Teague                    Faith Baptist
Darrell Webb                    Calvary Baptist
Mike Ivey                    West Cramerton
Charles Robertson                North Canton Baptist
Junior Morris                    Salem Baptist
Trevor Thompson
Michael Barrett                Pleasant Garden
Kelly Lown                    United Baptist
R. Caroll Anthony                Philadelphia Baptist Church
Miles Crouse                    Bethel Baptist
Stephen Brackeen                Bethel Baptist
Tony Moore                    Trindale Baptist
Scott Hookes                    Tabernacle Baptist Church
Evg. E.J. Hicks                    Vote for Jesus
Jame Ebright                    Dioceses of Charlotte

Maurice Henson                First Baptist Church Indian Trail
Greg Cook                    First Baptist Church Indian Trail
David Roberts                Clarks Chapel
Melissa Roberts                Clarks Chapel
Tawng Khaul    Zo                Christian Church
James Hamilton                Newell Baptist
Michael Cummings                First Baptist Church
Richard Walker                Anderson Grove Baptist
Eddie Powers                    Sandy Ridge Baptist
Evan Albertynf                Central Church
Ronnie Bowers                Flint Grove Baptist
Ron Riddley                    Pleasant Plains Baptist
Tim Helms                    Lighthouse
Darial Jackson                St. John’s Baptist Church
Ramon King                    Securing Hope ministry
Thane Kendall                Greater Gaston Baptist Association
Howard Roadnax
Deacon O’Mading                Saint Leo the Great
Bob Desautels                Saint Leo the Great
Sonny Keller                    Corner Stone Family Worship
Tom Hawkes                    Uptown Church
David Kulp                    Uptown Church
Mike Kruger                    Uptown Church
Greg Baker                    Central Church of God

Raleigh Area Religious Leaders

Mark Creech                    Christian Action League
Tom Lamm                     Fellowship Baptist.
Robin Fischer                    Sunset Avenue Baptist Church
Jack Marshburn                  Tar Landing Baptist Church
David Buffalo                    Good Hope Church
Bobby Heath                    Community Baptist Church
Jimmy Williams                Bethel Baptist
Cecil Byrd                    Bethel Baptist
Mitch Whorton                Victory Church
Frann Sarpolus                Victory Church
Errett Marshburn                Christian Life Fellowship
Segried Varrow                 Little Flock Inc. Church
Devon Varnam                Coats Baptist Church

Gregg Newton                Pleasant Hill Baptist Church
Joe Cappar                    New River Baptist Association
Jimmy Dale                    Bear Creek Baptist Church
Joel Story                    Sandy Creek Baptist Church
Barry Byrd                    Judson Baptist
Olden Thornton                Raleigh International Church
Randy Moore                    Mt. Elom Baptist Church
Ernest Ferrell                    Park View Baptist Church
Timmy Bland                    Edgewood Baptist Church
Arnold Comer                    Mt. Calvary Baptist
Jerry Jialall                    New Millennium
David Bays                    Peter’s Creek Baptist Church
Jack Lee                     Pleasant Grove Baptist Church
J.E. Grissom                    New Life Church of God
Ronnie Rose                    New Life Church of God
Djuane Rich                    Victory Temple Ministries
Marty Jacumin                Bay Leaf Baptist Church
C.J. Bordeauh                    Gorman Baptist Church
Timmy Blair                    Piney Grove Chapel
Cameron McGill                Dublin First Baptist
Barry Galyean                Dublin First Baptist
Craig Hamlin                    Fairview Baptist Church
Marty Middleton                Fairview Baptist Church
Steve Gordon                    Piney Grove Baptist
Alan Whitley                     Parkwood Baptist Church
Aaron Wallace                Hephzibah Baptist Church
Jordan Reese                    Hephzibah Baptist Church
Kevin Bragg                    Hephzibah Baptist Church
Tom Wagoner                    Central Baptist Church
Chuck Franks                    Hephzibah Baptist Church
James Neal                    Central Baptist Church
Jeremy Autry                    Central Baptist Church
Matt Garrett                    Moncure Baptist
Harry Upchurch                Anchor Baptist
Richard Etidham                 Glory of God Christian Fellowship
Bill Haley                    Harris Chapel Baptist Church
Bruce Rogers                    Mt. Sinai
Mark Cottrell                    Pearce Baptist
Earl Echols                    Ebenezer Baptist
Derrick Shepherd                Ebenezer Baptist

Noah Raulerson                Ebenezer Baptist
Nicholas  Muteti                 Forest Field Baptist
Jarrod Scott                    Green Pines Baptist Church
Mike Griffin                    Green Pines Baptist Church
Mike Garrett                    Crossroads Fellowship
Gordon West                    Sandy Creek Baptist Association
Dan Tirey                     Cary Church of God
Ken Aune                    Trinity Community Church
Lamont Cooper                Millennium Revival Center
Bruce MacInnes                Turner’s Chapel
Barry Kirby                    Capital Community Church
Scott Shaw                    Capital Community Church
Will Nichols                    Victorious Praise
David Pryor                    Red Mountain Baptist Church
Hal Dickerson                    Timberlake Baptist Church
Don Cashwell                    Creedmor Road Baptist
Keith Frazier                    New Life Church
David Stacy                    Bunn Chapel
Christine Wiliams                Agape Love Church
Lawrence Flowers                Victorious Praise Fellowship
Vernell Leach                    Upper Room COGIC
Ricky Mill                    Providence Baptist Church
Bob Stancil                    Providence Baptist Church
Steve Lloyd                    Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church
Michael Boarts                Highland Baptist Church
Scott Shaw                    Capital Community Church
Steve Noble                    Called to Action
Levon Phillips                Farmington Heights Church of God
Gerard Falzon                    St. Michael’s Archangel
Steve Stephenson                 New Hope Baptist Church
Patrick Wooden                Upper Room Church of God in Christ
Curtis Bunn                    Upper Room Church of God in Christ
Eugene Ussery                Emmanuel Baptist Church
Jeff Chapman                    Raleigh North Christian Center
Robert Ivey                    Freedom Biker Church
James White                    First Baptist Hope Mills
Lynton Tuckington                Celebration Church
Tom Ravan                    Oak Grove Baptist Church
Robert Ivey                    Freedom Baker Church
James White                    First Baptist Hope Mills

Leon Keefe                    New Hope Baptist Church
Ronnie Rose                    New Life Church of God
Randy White                    New South River Baptist Association
David Gregorn                Lighthouse Baptist Church
James Parker                    Church of the Living God
Benjamin J. Knotts                Brenton Baptist Church
Chuck Campbell                Potter’s Hand Bible Church

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Rally for the Marriage Protection Amendment in Greensboro

WHAT:    Supporters of the Marriage Protection Amendment will rally in Greensboro to
offer prayer and support for preserving marriage between one man and one
woman in the State Constitution.

WHERE: McDonald Governmental Plaza
One Governmental Plaza
Greensboro, NC 27402-3136

WHEN:   Monday, May 7, 2012 at 7 p.m.

CONTACT:  Rachel Lee
(919) 701-0056
Rachel@VoteForMarriageNC.com

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Vote FOR Marriage NC Releases Anne Graham Lotz Video in Support of the Marriage Amendment

RALEIGH, NC—Vote FOR Marriage NC released a new video of Anne Graham Lotz, daughter of prominent evangelist Reverend Billy Graham, in support of the Marriage Protection Amendment in North Carolina. In April, Anne Graham Lotz, released a statement outlining her support of the Marriage Protection Amendment. Although Lotz stated that she rarely offers an opinion on political matters, Lotz said, “…there are times when a political issue is also a moral and spiritual issue that I need to take a stand on.” Lotz offered biblical, spiritual, practical, and personal reasons for her support of preserving marriage as the union between one man and one woman in the North Carolina Constitution.

“We are thankful for the support of Anne Graham Lotz, named by The New York Times as one of the five most influential evangelists of her generation, and the Graham family as we work to preserve marriage in North Carolina,” said Tami Fitzgerald, Chairwoman of Vote FOR Marriage NC.  “Across our great State, faith leaders are standing up in support of protecting marriage as the union between one man and one woman. We as Christians must defend marriage before activists radically redefine God’s institution of marriage in North Carolina.”

Earlier this week, Reverend Billy Graham issued a statement in support of the Marriage Protection Amendment, which preserves marriage as the union between one man and one woman in the State Constitution. Lotz’s brother, Franklin Graham, also issued a recorded statement endorsing the May 8 ballot question, which is playing across the State on radio stations.

Vote FOR Marriage NC is the referendum committee working to pass the Marriage Protection Amendment on May 8.  The campaign is comprised of a multitude of policy organizations, denominations, and civic groups. Its Executive Committee consists of the Christian Action League, NC Values Coalition, a coalition of African American pastors, NC Baptists, and the National Organization for Marriage (NOM).

North Carolinians interested in more information about Vote FOR Marriage NC may visit the campaign’s website: www.VoteFORMarriageNC.com.

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Rally for the Marriage Protection Amendment in Greensboro

WHAT: Supporters of the Marriage Protection Amendment will rally in Greensboro to
offer prayer and support for preserving marriage between one man and one
woman in the State Constitution.

WHERE: McDonald Governmental Plaza
One Governmental Plaza
Greensboro, NC 27402-3136

WHEN: Monday, May 7, 2012 at 7 p.m.

CONTACT: Rachel Lee
(919) 701-0056
Rachel@VoteForMarriageNC.com

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Vote FOR Marriage NC Hosts Election Night Event

WHAT: Vote FOR Marriage NC will host an election night event to watch election
returns as well as to offer appreciation to the thousands of supporters who have
rallied behind the effort to preserve marriage as the union between one man and
one woman in our State Constitution

WHERE: North Raleigh Hilton
3415 Wake Forest Road
Raleigh, NC 27609

WHEN:   Tuesday, May 8, 2012. Doors open at 7 p.m.

CONTACT: Rachel Lee
(919) 701-0056
Rachel@VoteForMarriageNC.com

Raleigh Pastors, Religious Leaders Rally for Marriage Amendment

WHAT: Pastors and religious leaders in Raleigh, NC rally for the Marriage Protection
Amendment and offer statement of support for preserving marriage as the union
between one man and one woman.   

WHERE: North Raleigh Hilton
3415 Wake Forest Road
Raleigh, NC 27609

WHEN: Monday, May 7, 2012 at 11 a.m.

CONTACT: Rachel Lee
(919) 701-0056
Rachel@VoteForMarriageNC.com

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